Mike Nadel: Is Barrett punchy? He still loves Cubs, Zambrano

Mike Nadel

Wednesday

Feb 27, 2008 at 12:01 AM

Michael Barrett misses the Cubs and pines to catch on with them again some day. Yes, even if Carlos Zambrano is still wearing Cubbie Blue.

Michael Barrett misses the Cubs and pines to catch on with them again some day. Yes, even if Carlos Zambrano is still wearing Cubbie Blue.
"I felt fortunate every day I put on that uniform," said Barrett, who was traded to San Diego last June 20 - only 19 days after the headstrong catcher famously brawled with baseball's most mercurial pitcher.
"Cubs fans go from generation to generation, and it's cool to be a part of that. If you develop even a passing relationship with a person whose great-great-grandfather was a diehard Cubs fan, it will change your outlook on what it means to be a Cubs player. Every day, you're watched by a million people who care so deeply it's hard to describe. To play for that team was a dream come true."
He then smiled and said: "I tell you, to put that uniform on again, I'd fight anyone - in a heartbeat."
During three-plus seasons with the Cubs, Barrett was a streaky hitter whose catching skills came under constant scrutiny. Though friendly and seemingly mild-mannered, he had a short fuse that was easily ignited. And who knows what he was thinking that fateful June 1 day when, after he and Zambrano went at it in the dugout, Michael followed Cra-Z into the clubhouse. (He wouldn't discuss specifics about the incident.)
Despite his warts, Barrett was popular in Cubbieland. Why? Because he never cheated the fans. And, of course, because he sucker-punched A.J. Pierzynski.
"Cubs fans aren't fooled by imitators," he said. "They know when a player gives his heart."
Entering the final year of his contract last spring, Barrett half-expected to get traded. When he put his face in front of Zambrano's fist, that sealed the deal. The Cubs dumped a solid offensive catcher for a stiff named Rob Bowen, who would be cut less than a month later.
It was classic addition-by-subtraction for the Cubs, who went on to win the division title.
"Getting Zambrano back on track had to be their first priority," Barrett said. "He already had faced so many challenges, with his contract situation and his rough start, and the last thing the club needed was Carlos facing another challenge. It wouldn't be fair to the manager to have to say, 'I can't catch Barrett today because Zambrano's pitching.'
"Lou Piniella told me he was confident I could handle Zambrano, but he just didn't want to take a chance. I knew then I was as good as gone. I was getting paid too much money to sit on the bench twice a week or more."
Piniella, an emotional brawler back when he played, said this week he was "only initially" reluctant to use Barrett as Zambrano's catcher.
"I thought time would heal," Piniella said, "so there was no sense rushing that combination."
These days, Lou can't heap enough praise on Barrett's replacement, rookie Geovany Soto. Still, the manager said: "I really like Michael. He's a good guy. I didn't push for a trade."
After the fight, Zambrano insisted he could pitch to Barrett. Nearly nine months later, he's still saying nice things about his former assault-and-batterymate: "Believe me, I love Michael. I mean it when I say he's my brother, no matter what happened last year. He was good to me."
Statistically, Michael was good FOR Carlos, too. Working almost exclusively with Barrett from 2004 to 2006, Zambrano's 3.14 ERA was seventh-best in the majors.
"I'm not taking a lot of credit, but I will take a little," Barrett said. "I know it's difficult for people to remember the big picture of our relationship because all they'll remember is the fight, but I do think I played a role in his development.
"Handling Carlos was not easy - and I'm not even talking about his emotions, although that was a factor. It had more to do with his pitch selection and the movement on his pitches.
"Look, you couldn't catch Zambrano for three years and not go at it with him - verbally, physically, whatever. Some of the craziest things in my career happened with him on the mound. Cubs fans will remember Zambrano forever. He's hilarious and passionate. Fun. And a little crazy.
"You walk away shaking your head and saying, 'Oh, that Carlos.' I tell you, I don't regret being his catcher for one second."
Barrett probably won't have a similar relationship with any San Diego pitcher. He struggled after the trade - zero homers and 12 RBIs in three months for a team that choked away a playoff spot - and now is competing with Josh Bard for playing time. Having signed a one-year contract, he believes he could be dealt again this season. (Note to Michael: Don't bet on a return to Cubbieland.)
"The second half of the season didn't go as he had hoped, but we know there's a good player in there," Padres manager Bud Black said. "It's tough when you come over in the middle of the year to a new staff that was pitching extremely well with the catchers we had. This spring gives him a great opportunity to get to know the guys."
The guys include three ex-Cubs: Greg Maddux, Glendon Rusch and Mark Prior. In Chicago, Prior and Maddux preferred Henry Blanco and Paul Bako to Barrett.
"Being a catcher is like being a quarterback," Barrett said. "It seems there's always a controversy."
Controversy? Mild-mannered Michael Barrett? Not a chance.
Mike Nadel (mikenadel@sbcglobal.net) is the Chicago sports columnist for GateHouse News Service. Read his blog, The Baldest Truth, at www.thebaldesttruth.com.

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